"Reefer Madness": 4/20 District 11 Book Club at the Sequoya Library (7:00–8:30 PM)

On April 20, the District 11 Book Club will explore one of the nation's most enduring and debated policy issues: marijuana. For nearly a century, cannabis has served as a potent political symbol, cast either as a social threat or as a catalyst for reform and economic opportunity.

Join fellow community members in this discussion of Part 1 of Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market by Eric Schlosser (2003). Although written years before the wave of state level legalization, the book remains relevant for its examination of the underground cannabis economy.

Supporters of legalization argue that regulated markets could improve safety, keep revenue within the state, and generate tax benefits, while opponents express concerns about youth access and public health risks. Schlosser's book places today's policy debates in a broader historical frame, showing how marijuana has long served as a shifting political symbol. If you're interested in criminal justice, economics, or the future of legalizing the sale of cannabis, you will want to attend the District 11 Book Club discussion on 4/20 at the Sequoya library from 7-8:30 pm. 

Copies of the book are available for loan at the Ask Desk at Sequoya Library, first-come first-served.
 
(Update on 3/27/2026 at 8:17 AM CST)

Additional Readings:

Eric Schlosser, “More Reefer Madness." The Atlantic, April 1997. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/04/more-reefer-madness/376827/

Matt Thompson,  “The Mysterious History of ‘Marijuana.'" South Carolina Public Radio, July 22, 2013. https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/2013-07-22/the-mysterious-history-of-marijuana

Abigail Becker, “Madison City Council Eases Marijuana Restrictions." The Capital Times, November 19, 2020. https://captimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-city-council-eases-marijuana-restrictions/article_e1357582-5da9-5969-88d9-66eb48215076.html

Logan Wroge, "From hemp to high: Delta-8 THC brings marijuana-like product to unregulated Wisconsin" State Journal, September 24, 2025. 
https://lacrossetribune.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/article_42bbec64-6980-51c1-b144-abf51e379b46.html?mode=nowapp

“Legal Loopholes in Wisconsin Laws Regulating THC Products Leave Consumers Vulnerable." PBS Wisconsin, October 8, 2025. https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/legal-loopholes-in-wisconsin-laws-regulating-thc-products-leave-consumers-vulnerable/

Bianca Martin, "Right Now, Anyone Can Buy Hemp-Derived THC in Madison."  City Cast Madison, October 28, 2025. https://madison.citycast.fm/podcasts/right-now-anyone-can-buy-hemp-derived-thc-in-madison

Sabine Martin, "UW-Madison hemp researchers brace for shock to industry." Wisconsin State Journal, November 22, 2025. https://madison.com/news/local/education/university/article_07e6a386-b32c-4e2a-b56a-e859e369ca78.html 

Anya van Wagtendonk, “Wisconsin Democrats Introduce Marijuana Legalization Legislation." Wisconsin Public Radio. February 6, 2026. https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-democrats-marijuana-cannabis-legalization-legislation

Noe Goldhaber, “Madison Hemp Stores Face Evolving Federal, State and Local Regs." Isthmus, February 17, 2026. https://isthmus.com/news/news/madison-hemp-stores-face-evolving-federal-state-and-local-regs/

Isiah Holmes,  “Wisconsin Democrats renew push to fully legalize cannabis." Wisconsin Examiner. February 3, 2026. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/renewed-push-by-democrats-to-fully-legalize-cannabis/

 “Wisconsin Medical Cannabis Bill on the Move." Marijuana Policy Project (Blog). February 6, 2026. https://blog.mpp.org/blog/wisconsin-medical-cannabis-bill-on-the-move/

Foley Hoag. “Wisconsin Introduces Bill to Legalize Cannabis and Impose Guardrails on Intoxicating Hemp Products." March 3, 2026. https://foleyhoag.com/news-and-insights/blogs/cannabis-and-the-law/2026/march/wisconsin-introduces-bill-to-legalize-cannabis-and-impose-guardrails-on-intoxicating-hemp-products/